An information resource for Macys West Employees. Post your own experiences or questions here. Have a problem and need help or information? Put the experiences of others and their know-how, to work for you!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009Be Good To Yourself! Not The Union!Stop paying $600.00 a year to a Union that does NOTHING for you! The Store couldn't possibly pay lower wages then they do now, without suffering Huge Losses in Sales ! It would be impossible to retain current sales professionals, yet alone attract new ones if salaries were lowered further. If they did, they know that they would lose 'Billions' in sales! That's right, not Millions in sales, but Billions would be lost! You are now being paid 'Poverty Wages', ' You Must Pay For Your Own Health Care' and 'You Are Paid Less Than Your Contemporaries at Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman and Bloomingdales', who pay NO UNION DUES! How do you feel about having to apply for 'Disability', if you or someone you love becomes seriouslly ill?! How do you feel about being 'Deliberately Excluded' from negotiating 'YOUR OWN CONTRACT', by Borstel and the UFCW?!Instead of forking your hard earned money over to the UFCW, why not use that $600 for something useful! That money could be used to pay for your health care premiums, which would not change in the absence of the union! Use it to take a mini vacation or add 6 sick days to your calandar year! Use it to buy something for yourself or if necessary, pay some bills! Why continue to pay this money to a organization that does not care about you, only your money? What happens if you don't pay your dues? The UFCW will terminate your employment, not Macys! Remember, that the UFCW collects the same amount from you, REGARDLESS of how they do their job. Whether they negotiate a bad contract, do not aggresively persue your rights when violated or allow Macys to continuously violate the contract with impunity, the UFCW still gets YOUR MONEY! In the absence of a union, you still have the 'NLRB' to protect you. They are legally obligated to protect you from unfair labor practices by an Employer, as they do for the employees of Neiman, Sacks, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Oh bye the way, the National Labor Relations Board doesn't charge you a dime!Be good to yourself for a change and stop throwing your money away! This union does not care about you! Talk is cheap, but the UFCW's actions speak for themselves! Poverty Wages, No Sick Days, No Health Care, Exclusion from The Collective Bargaining Process and a 'Pay Dues Or Else' mentality! Does anyone not see a pattern here?! What are we paying dues for excatly? I believe in unions and have personally benefited from being in a union shop. That union was the 'Teamsters' and they did truly represent us! We were paid a decent wage, had full medical, dental and yes 'sick pay'. Other then paying monthly dues, I was not charged a penny in deductables for medical or dental. Even when I had needed a root canal and crown, I was not charged one penny. If I had a grievance, my union representative would come to me! He would either meet me wherever I was at the moment or back at my employers office. The problem was addressed that very day, not at some future date. My rep would contact the district manager and the problem was immediately addressed! If the company attempted to breach the contract or treat a member unfairly, the union would immediately right it up as an incident! Regardless of whether the employer righted the wrong or not, the offending sales rep or manager was held accountable. Repeat offenses by either, resulted in termination of the company employee. If not, the union would take legal action against the company. We also had a 'Strike Fund', not that it was ever needed. This is what 'All Members' should expect from from their Union! If not, than what is the point of paying dues? If what we now receive from the UFCW was indicative of all Union Representation , the Labor Movement would never have gotten off the ground.Posted by Joseph A Cristofalo at 12:12 PM0 commentsFriday, October 30, 2009In recent years, UFCW labor bosses have faced charges of corruption, mismanagement, and embezzling member dues. Recent examples include:The February 18, 2007 edition of the Bergen County Record highlighted major funding problems for UFCW Local 174's pension plan, which was funded at only 62 percent of the money needed to pay its future obligations. Anything under 65 percent, the Record noted, is generally considered in "crisis." How did this happen? Fewer people have joined the union or worked in the industry, meaning that shrinking numbers of participants have to pay for retirees. In fact, current workers account for only 14 percent of the pension's participants while nearly 64 percent of the plan participants were already drawing retirement checks. In this light, it becomes clear why desperate UFCW leaders' are attacking employers across the country - to get new dues-payers to pick up the bill for current members.In late 2005, the former assistant to the president of UFCW International, Joseph DiFlumera, was sentenced for mail fraud, racketeering, and extorting more than $1.5 million from a grocery chain. DiFlumera told prosecutors that he would offer an "insurance policy" that allowed a company to "come under the umbrella" of protection from union organizing. DiFlumera "repeatedly advised these individuals that the monies paid to him were handed over to the president of Local 1445 and the UFCW. The defendant insisted that if these monies were not paid by the company the company would suffer extreme economic harm."Former UFCW International secretary-treasurer Joseph Talarico pled guilty to his role in embezzling $2 million from Local 1. He was ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution. In related indictments for defrauding UFCW, his son was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to repay $81,000 in embezzled funds; his daughter was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to repay $26,000; and his brother pled guilty to embezzling $650,000 from the union. Together, the four family members made more than $1 million in salaries from the local in 1996.In 1993, Newsday reported that UFCW founder William Wynn traveled in a $5 million union-owned jet plane and sold his house to the union for $620,000 (nearly twice the appraised price) -- and continued to live there for at least three years. The paper reported that in addition to Wynn's salary of $263,000 ($346,000 adjusted for inflation), he was reimbursed for $80,000 in expenses the previous year. It further noted that a reformer seeking to unseat Wynn "said that Wynn's salary and perks are a disgrace when put in the context of the incomes of the workers he represents" and had research that showed "Wynn's salary rose 122 percent from 1980 to 1992, while the average meat packing worker's wages went up 3 percent over that period."Dept. of Labor InvestigationsBeyond newspaper accounts of union corruption, the Department of Labor's Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) investigates and prosecutes union bosses who embezzle members dues. Since 2001, OLMS has prosecuted dozens of cases against UFCW locals and has recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in embezzled union member dues. Below are the OLMS's UFCW case reports.UFCW 717Amount Embezzled: $14,000.00On March 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 717, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three months in a community treatment center and three years probation. Bandt was also ordered to make full restitution to the union. On January 13, 2006, Bandt pled guilty to embezzling more than $14,000 from the union. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.UFCW 990Amount Embezzled: $20,385.00On February 2, 2006, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Stephen L. Bush, former Recording Secretary for Food and Commercial Workers Local 990 was sentenced to six months home detention with electronic monitoring and five years probation. Bush was also ordered to make restitution of $20,385.98 and to pay a special victims' fund assessment of $400. On October 6, 2005, Bush pled guilty to four counts of embezzling union funds. Bush is the son of former Local 990 President, Ronald A. Bush, who also pled guilty to embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.UFCW 717Amount Embezzled: $14,065.00On January 13, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Rebecca Bandt, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 717, pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds totaling $14,065. Bandt had previously been indicted on September 14, 2005, in a 14-count indictment consisting of five counts of embezzling union funds, five counts of falsifying union records, and four counts of making a false statement on a required report. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.UFCW 538Amount Embezzled: $30,210.92On November 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Michael Rice, former President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 538, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, six months home confinement, three years probation, and ordered to make full restitution, for embezzling union funds totaling $30,210.92. Rice entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2005. The conviction follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.UFCW 990Amount Embezzled: $1,967.00On June 29, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Ronald A. Bush, former president of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, pled guilty to four counts of embezzling $1,967 in union funds. Bush's guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office. [Related documents: HTML PDF]UFCW 1050 and 1052Amount Embezzled: $91,126.00On April 5, 2005, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Retail Wholesale (UFCW) District Council, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised probation. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution in the amount of $77,441.00 to UFCW Local 1050 and $13,685.00 to UFCW Local 1052. On May 3, 2004, Lineback pled guilty to embezzling union funds and falsifying union records for the two locals he was representing following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.UFCW 990Amount Embezzled: $9,806.80On January 14, 2005, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Grace Maldonado, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to five years of supervised probation for embezzling union funds. She was ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $9,806.80. Maldonado pled guilty on September 3, 2004, following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.UFCW 990Amount Embezzled: $27,248.82On December 14, 2004, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Barbara Ann Hayes, former bookkeeper of Local 990, United Food and Commercial Workers, was sentenced to six months home detention enforced by electronic monitoring and five years probation. Hayes was also ordered to pay a $100 court assessment and make restitution in the amount of $27,248.82. On May 17, 2004, Hayes pled guilty to embezzlement following an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office. [Related documents: HTML PDF]UFCW 294Amount Embezzled: $3,672.84On June 8, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Brian Brabazon, former president of Chemical Workers Local 294 (United Food and Commercial Workers), was sentenced for making a willful false entry in union records. Brabazon pled guilty to the charge on March 5, 2004. He was initially indicted in September 2003, on one count of embezzling union funds; he later pled guilty to the lesser charge. Brabazon was sentenced to one year of probation, restitution in the amount of $3,672.84, and a $100 fine (which was waived). The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.UFCW 1050Amount Embezzled: $182,443.00On May 3, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, a two-count information was filed against Angelous "Smokey" Lineback, former international representative for Retail, Wholesale District Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1050. The information charged him with one count of embezzling $182,443 in union funds and one count of making false entries in union records. On the same date, Lineback entered a plea agreement and pled guilty. The charge and subsequent plea follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.UFCW 1116Amount Embezzled: $53,570.00On April 16, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Julie Palmi, former bookkeeper of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1116, was sentenced to six months home confinement with work release privileges and three years probation. In addition, she was ordered to make full restitution. Palmi pled guilty on January 21, 2004, to one count of embezzling approximately $53,570 in union funds. An information charging Palmi with embezzlement was filed on October 16, 2003. This case was transferred from the District of Minnesota to the Southern District of California pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the consent of the parties. The charge, guilty plea, and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.UFCW 1101Amount Embezzled: $9,987.00On March 11, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, James Robinson, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1101, was placed on two years probation for failing to maintain union records. He was ordered to complete restitution to the union in the amount of $9,987. Robinson pled guilty to the charge on December 9, 2003. The guilty plea and sentence follow an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.UFCW 655On October 17, 2003, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nick A. Torpea, former business agent for Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, was sentenced to one year probation and fined $750 for making a false entry in union records. Torpea pled guilty to the charge on July 30, 2003. Torpea's sentencing followed the September 18, 2003, sentencing of his father, Nick J. Torpea, to three years probation for making a false statement to a Department of Labor investigator. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.UFCW 193Amount Embezzled: $7,000.00On February 14, 2002, in Kings County (California) Superior Court, Robert S. Ramos, former president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 193-I, entered a plea of no contest to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to one year in the county jail and three years of supervised probation and was fined $2,700. He was also required to pay $6,000 in restitution ($1,000 was previously paid) over the next three years. The charges had been brought on November 1, 2001, following an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.UFCW 427Amount Embezzled: $13,218.46On January 30, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Roger Causby, former secretary-treasurer of Food and Commercial Workers Local 427, was sentenced to four months imprisonment and four months home detention, followed by two years of supervised probation. He had earlier pled guilty to embezzling union funds and had made restitution of $13,218.46. The charges had been brought following an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.Election news: Unions gear up for their favorite pastime in MassachusettsAs we head into winter, things are heating up in Massachusetts– just as the Charles River begins to freeze up. In the wake of the passing of longtime Senator Ted Kennedy, unions in Massachusetts are mobilizing for an “abbreviated” Democratic primary– a place where unions shine and shine and shine. The Boston Globe reports: “Special elections always play [more...]Posted Fri, 09 Oct 2009A House DividedWith the future of the modern American labor movement on the line, labor unions just can’t seem to get it right–or get it together. The recent schism over the proposed health care bill has simply brought into focus the long standing enmity between the country’s preeminent labor leaders. Trumka, heir apparent to the AFL-CIO, says any [more...]Posted Tue, 08 Sep 2009Sick of playing Russian nested dolls at health care town hallsSEIU has been taking a lot of heat for their less-than-subtle organizing of “open” town halls across the country. No one has been terribly confused about who is behind a health care town hall when those in attendance are all wearing bright purple shirts, sporting ACORN buttons, and carrying fancy signs—not to mention arriving on [more...]Posted Mon, 17 Aug 2009 Read more at LaborPains.org_uacct = "UA-1568203-13";urchinTracker();Posted by Joseph A Cristofalo at 6:26 PM0 commentsWednesday, October 28, 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-hJU04Kf7Q&NR=1 UFCW threatens 16yr old girlPosted by Joseph A Cristofalo at 12:40 AM0 commentsMonday, October 26, 2009Many members are aware of problems with the UFCW 101 and its President, Mike Borstel. If Borstel isn't voted out of office soon, then the UFCW will be voted out by the members in 2014. Most of the union membership is comprised of young people that do not want to pay union dues under any circumstance. The minority is comprised of senior members, many of which are disinfranchised with the UFCW. The UFCW knows this and will do anything to avoid a 'Decertification Vote'. Fortunately for the membership in this case, all votes are equal. The vast majority of members do not want the UFCW for a variety of reasons. The younger members do not see the point in paying dues, while others that do understand the value of a union shop, know that this one is corrupt! In 2013 a 'Petition to Withdraw' can be presented to the NLRB. They are then obligated by law, to hold a 'Decertification Vote' at the store, with reps from all parties in attendence. The vote MUST be in person and public! This means that the UFCW cannot rig the vote, as they did in the 2008 contract negotiation. Since the vote will be in-person and public (non secret ballot), their will be no way to 'NOT' varify the will of the dues-paying members! I believe in Unions, but not this one! This Union's only interest, is collecting dues...thats it! When they are aren't doing that, they are selling out the membership to the Store or spending our money. That is why we don't have a strike fund. It would cut into their expense accounts and persons being paid to do nothing. A perfect example is Diane Holland, who is never in her office, never attends grievance meetings and has no case load whatsoever! Despite this, she is paid an annual salary of nearly $100,000. She is assigned to the Geary Office but is never there, so what is she being paid for exactly?! If you want to represent the members, then you will need to prove that your administration will be different from Borstel's. If you cannot, then I see no need on taking a chance on trading one corrupt administration for another. I am quite sure that the membership will feel the same way. As things stand now, Macys West Employees make less money, have less benefits and poorer health care than ANY other Union Square Major Department Store Employees. The fact that they must pay union dues for these non privlages is absolutely outrageous! I have never heard of a union shop, where the members had to pay for their own health care in addition to union dues! The membership could get together and put a similiar or better package together, on their own! If you cannot provide for health care or at least come up with something better in terms of pay, benefits, sick time, health coverage and stronger language to protect members, then you are destined to fail. Joseph A Cristofalo response letter to 'Save Local 101 Alliance' at http://savelocal101.com/wst_page4.php This website has information that 'ALL Macys West Employees' will be interested in!Posted by Joseph A Cristofalo at 4:42 PM0 commentsSubscribe to: Posts (Atom)

25 Billion in $ales (Macys 2008)

About Me

I am a 12 year Macys West Employee, that was fired for 'Whistleblowing.' Not only did I not receive help from the UFCW 101, but was denied access to my files by Borstel and eventually 'Set-up' by Borstel and Kevin Sears. These same two persons are responsable for excluding Macys Employees from the 2008 Collective Bargaining Agreement and screwing all members to a long term, pathetic contract. Mr. Sears received a promotion for his part, while Borstel continues to collect your monthly dues! While this is going on, Borstel and his Cronies enjoy outrageous pay raises&benefits. They sold out the ENTIRE Macys Membership in your last contract negotiation that you were DELIBERATELY excluded from! If that isn't bad enough, Macys continues to knowingly and willingly, violate an already pathetic contract with impunity. Once in a while, Gary and Mike are able to reverse an injustice. But the unfortunate truth is that if Macys really wants to push an agenda or an employee gone, then you will be sold out at the highest levels of UFCW 101. This is what happened to me, to others and can happen to you too! For this very reason, the UFCW 101 must go!